Americans United has blasted a new “religious liberty commission” unveiled by President Donald Trump during the National Day of Prayer May 1.
Trump has staffed the commission with Christian Nationalists, including its chairman, Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick. This is a sign, AU says, that the commission plans to subvert religious freedom, not protect it.
“This commission is not about religious liberty, but about advancing Christian Nationalism,” said Rachel Laser, AU president and CEO, in a statement.
“True religious freedom requires equality among religions and between religion and nonreligion in the eyes of the law and at every level of our government,” Laser added. “Trump clearly designed this commission to favor conservative Christians, especially those who want to use the power of our government to impose their religion on others.”
She concluded, “Both the majority of commissioners and the commission’s six areas of focus show that it’s all about advancing Christian Nationalism. Chairman Patrick has frequently claimed that America is a ‘Christian nation’, and his actions repeatedly show a desire to impose his personal religion on all Americans using the machinery of the state — a gross violation of our religious freedom. True religious freedom means we each have the right to live as ourselves and believe as we choose, so long as we don’t harm others. This commission makes a mockery of religious freedom.”
During the signing ceremony, Trump questioned the importance of the separation of church and state, asking “the separation, I don’t know, is that a good thing or a bad thing?”
Laser added in response, “The separation of church and state is a wonderful thing. Not only is it an American invention, but it’s also the only guarantee we have for true religious liberty. This country needs a renewed national recommitment — and a new and different commission — to defend church-state separation.”
In another move designed to placate Christian Nationalists, Trump in February announced the creation of a task force, led by Attorney General Pam Bondi, to oppose “anti-Christian bias” in federal agencies.
Americans United criticized the move.
“All people, including Christians, should be able to live as themselves and believe as they choose so long as they don’t harm others,” Laser told the Associated Press. “But rather than protecting religious beliefs, this task force will misuse religious freedom to justify bigotry, discrimination, and the subversion of our civil rights laws.”